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shrub

Hiryu Azalea

Rhododendron obtusum

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Hiryu Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Hiryu Azalea flowers

Hiryu Azalea flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  5 feet

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  6b

Description:

Clusters of lavender blooms with red spots on the dorsal lobe blanket this azalea in mid spring; an airy upright shrub that is great along borders; needs highly acidic and organic soil that is well drained

Ornamental Features

Hiryu Azalea is bathed in stunning clusters of lightly-scented lavender trumpet-shaped flowers with red spots at the ends of the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has green evergreen foliage. The narrow leaves remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Hiryu Azalea is an open multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Hiryu Azalea is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Hiryu Azalea will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features